? Victory at Portsmouth confirms promotion to Premier League
? 'Simeon Jackson's goals have been monumental for us'
Paul Lambert is not a man given to histrionics but in the moment of triumph after steering his young Norwich team to successive promotions and the �60m bonanza of the Premier League he did allow himself to speak in superlatives. "It's an absolute miracle what's happened here," Lambert said after the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park that sealed automatic promotion from the Championship. "My team have been absolutely brilliant. They're the ones who play the game. The fanbase also has been extraordinary.
"The main objective [at the start of the season] was to stay up, what with the finances of the club, what we've been through," Lambert said, before paying tribute to Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, the club's majority shareholders, whom he described as "people you would die for". "They've seen the bad times, the criticism that's been levelled at the club. I'm just so delighted for them."
For Lambert, a League One manager two years ago, the Premier League will represent a huge step up, albeit one where he will have has his own illustrious experience as a player with Celtic and Borussia Dortmund (where he was a Champions League winner) to call upon.
"It's a lot different to anything you achieve as a player. You can win the Champions League and you don't realise what you've done to win it. That, out there, is totally different. You've got to get a group of lads to go to the well week after week.
"I get more satisfaction from this. I played with world-class players. I was the only crap one, so I should know. For a team like that to run for you week after week has been brilliant.
"Everybody knows the Premier League is the best league in Europe. I've never been involved in it, never played in it, I've seen a few games. But I'm definitely going to enjoy it. You get to play Manchester United one week, Arsenal the next. Although I might give you a different answer then."
Lambert had warm words for the scorer of the game's only goal, Simeon Jackson, a vital cutting edge in the promotion run-in. "He couldn't get in the side at first. But his goals have been monumental for us," Lambert added. "It was a beautiful ball in from Foxy [David Fox] for the goal, it really was, you'll not see better than that."
Curiously for Norwich there is a promise of even more: they might yet finish top of the Championship depending on any points deductions resulting from Queens Park Rangers' FA hearing into transfer dealings. "I can't affect what happens there," Lambert said. "The main thing is that we're up. I don't want a T-shirt. I want a trophy. But we can't do anything but win our last game, we can't affect what happens in an FA hearing."
Steve Cotterill, the Portsmouth manager, was generous but rueful in defeat. "Many congratulations to Norwich. It was a tough game for them and a tough game for us. They have so many goalscorers in that team.
"They have wonderful owners. Michael and Delia. They are proper football people and I am absolutely delighted for them, after all they've been through."
Tactically Cotterill was full of praise for Norwich's fluent midfield diamond but really his thoughts were with his own players and Portsmouth's own dire financial state. "Maybe with a bit of help and a few extra players we could have been there ourselves," he said. "What makes it hard is seeing someone else sat six feet away from you who has just got into the Premier League. But good luck to them, they have really, really fought for that club."
For Norwich it is a battle that has ended in triumph. Asked how he was going to celebrate Lambert regained his customary laconic poise. "We've got a long coach journey. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a different kind of journey home."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/03/paul-lambert-norwich-city-promotion
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